The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-04-06
COM MON S.
Worshipping at the American Shrine.
BY HALE WEATHERWELL.
Christian Nefgh6or.

Christian Neioh6or.
One day last week I had occasion tc
visit some towns along the Potomac
River, and learning that my schedule
would take me past Mount Vernon,
determined to leave the boat at thai
point for few hours, and pay my
homage at the grave of one well known
In epic verse, and guide-books, as 1.-THE
father of his country'-the late George
Washington.
Let me put in q few words for the
guide-book it is stored with lots OF &C.
curate information, and is braced with
chunks of sentimental patriotism,
about the size and temperament of a
we'll organized mustard plaster; it's
just like T tell you,-for hadn't been
reading many minutes until the high
language of the book commenced
drawing my national pride to the sur
face, and soon I became more than
ever convinced that George Washing
ton was, indeed, quite feature in the
country-some years ago. But the
guide-book has moisture as we'll as
mustard, and ere long felt that I was
becoming saturated with the tears that
dripped from page to page as the gen
tie reader" was bade look upon the
tomb which holdeth the cherry-tree
hero.
The tomb is a plain brick structure
with wide arched entrance in which
hang large iron gates. Above the en-
trance a simple slab has on it these
words:
WITHIN THIS ENCLOSURE RESTS THE
REMAINS OF GENERAL GEORGE
WASHINGTON.
In the anti.room to the vault are the
sarcophagi,-t one on the right, con-
tanning the remains of George Wash
ington, is ornamented with the ma
tional coat-of-arms upon a draped flag,
under which is chiseled the one word,
WASHINGTON.
The sarcophagus on the left, holding
Mrs. Washington's remains is devoid
of embellishment, and bears this le-
|gend:
MARTHA,
CONsoRT OF WASHINGTON.
DIED MAY 21sT, 1901 A: AGED II YEARS.
The vault in the rear of the sarco-
phagi contains the ashes OF about thir-
ty relatives of the Washington and
Custis families. Above the door of
this vault is a marble block with the
following quotation upon it:
III AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE
LIFE: HE THAT BELIEvETH IN
ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD,
YET SHALL HE LIVE"
To this receptacle, Washington's body
was removed in 1881, owing to feel
ing of insecurity, a man having brok-
en- into the old tomb, and stolen there
from skull which some people claim
ed to be that Of Washington, but which
proved to belong to one of the kins-
men. The body was placed in the sar-
cophagus, where it now rests, Oct. Z,
1887. The door of the inner vault was
then closed, and the key thrown into
the Potomac.
The pictures of Mount Vernon that
graced the old time geography and
reader are admirable representations
of the mansion House." as WASH
ington was wont to designate his home.
The house is made of wood, and the
sides are cut and painted in imitation
of stone blocks. Length of house,
ninety-six feet; depth, thirty. The
east piazza, which runs along the en-
tire front, Gis paved with fag-stones
brought from the Isle of Wight.
In the front hall hangs the key of
the Bastile. This interesting relic of
the French Revolution is about nine
inches long, is apparently of ordinary
iron, and weighs, I am satisfied, as
much as one pound. Another memen-
to of the Bastile is model of the pri-
son made from granite block of the
celebrated dungeon. Both of these
were presented to Washington by his
friend La Fayette.
The state dining-room has for its
chief attraction an exquisitely carved
mantel-piece of Carrara marble, with
Sienna marble columns supporting
the shelf. 1t came from Italy, and
with it comes over the sea a vague sto-
ry, that on it's pas sage to this country
it fell into the han ds of French pirates,
who, when learning that it was for
Washington, forwarded it unharmed
to its destination. [The guide-book
tells this tale.] A large "split-bot-
tom" armchair that came over in the
good ship MdN2oaDer Is now kept in
this "banquet hall deserted" Dupli-
Gates $50 far as appearances go) may be
obtained from the Sand Hills peddlers
who frequent the streets of Columbia.
The family dining-room, which is
maintained by South Carolina, is as
well kept as any, and it surpasses sew
eral Of the rooms, each of which is in
charge of one of the "original thireeen
States" The walls of this room are
pearly white, the ceiling is in ara
besque design, low, bas-relief, neutral
tints and gliding. The floor is we'll
polished, and has upon it heavy rug.
Big, old style, brass fire-dOgs and fem
der furnish the chimney-piece. An
ancient corner cupboard used by the
Washingtons holds set of china,
reproduction of that formerly occupy
ing its shelves. The side-board in this
room was also used by the Washing
ton family.
The room in which Washington
died, Dec. IA, 1899, is about fifteen by
eighteen feet, with dressing-room and
linen closet adjoining. The contents
of this room were used by Washing
ton, save the bed-linen, the original of
which was removed by age and liberal
minded Americans. The Generals
coach trunk is seedy looking article
to-day. Once it was hair trunk, but
now it is painfully bald-headed all
over.
Mrs. Washington died in room
just over her husbands death cham
Der. It has but one little dormer-win-
dow, afording view of the tomb.
Mount Vernon commands magnifi-